By Anjela Jeganathan – Holistic Medical Herbalist
Welcome to the first blog in our “Stop the Inflammation Pandemic” series. Today, we begin at the very core of our health—the digestive system. From your mouth all the way to the anal passage, inflammation can silently brew in any part of the digestive tract, laying the foundation for chronic disease. But how do we recognize it? And more importantly, what can we do about it?
Two Faces of Inflammation: Acute vs. Chronic
Acute inflammation is a normal, helpful immune response. Have you ever eaten something too hot or scraped your gums while brushing? You might’ve felt soreness or discomfort that cleared up in a few days. That’s your immune system jumping
in to heal physical damage. But then there’s chronic inflammation—the kind that doesn’t go away. It’s the kind that causes your immune system to turn on your own digestive lining. Over time, this creates damage, ulcers, pain, fatigue, and more. This is the root cause of many modern- day illnesses. Autoimmunity is your immune system stuck in overdrive—trying to protect you, but hurting you instead.
It’s Not Just What You Eat… It’s Also How You Eat
Imagine swallowing a tomato skin that sticks in your throat. Your body panics—coughs, produces mucus, and tries to eject it.
Now imagine something similar happening deeper in your colon—an irritating food particle or chemical preservative. The body reacts the same way: mucus, pain, urgency… and if not given time to heal, it may turn into chronic inflammation. Most of us never give the digestive system a break. We eat frequently, eat the same inflammatory foods, or eat under stress. Over time, the immune system gets overwhelmed—and instead of healing the problem, it begins attacking nearby tissues.
What Does Western Medicine Do?
When faced with these symptoms—bloody mucus, loose stools, constant urgency—doctors often prescribe immune suppressants or steroids. While this may calm the inflammation short term, it doesn’t heal the root cause. In fact, long-term suppression of the immune system can open the door to infections, anemia, or even cancer.
What About Natural Approaches?
You’ve probably heard of probiotics, elimination diets, and digestive enzymes. These can help somewhat, but let’s be honest:
If your colon is inflamed, how can probiotics settle in and do their job?
Or, if you’re too exhausted or overwhelmed to stick to a restrictive elimination diet, how much healing can truly happen?
A More Balanced Approach: Integrating Both Worlds
In an acute crisis (like 12 bowel movements a day or severe bleeding), steroids may be necessary to stabilize the situation.
But once the fire is under control, it’s time to look deeper:
What caused this in the first place?
What’s triggering the immune system?
What can we do to support natural healing instead of suppression?
The Path to Healing: Repair from the Inside Out
We begin by:
1. Supporting the digestive process—from the moment food enters your mouth.
2. Encouraging enzyme production in the stomach.
3. Soothing and moisturizing the intestinal lining.
4. Using herbs to reduce inflammation and rebuild strength.
What’s Coming Next?
In the next blog, we’ll explore specific herbal formulas, diet changes, and the impact of
stress on digestive health.
We’ll also revisit Mr. X’s case—how emotional distress and food interact to cause
inflammation—and what to do about it.
Stay tuned for:
➡️ Part 2: How Your Mind and Meals Work Together to Heal (Or Harm) the Gut
Your Healing Starts Now
If your digestive system is speaking to you—through bloating, burning, urgency, or
fatigue—listen. Your body has the wisdom to heal. You just need to give it the right support.
Let’s return to centre—where healing begins.
With nature, awareness, and the breath.
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